To assist the AFA in the smooth running of competitions the AFA has come up with a Stewards training program. This is not hard and is just to ensure that anyone that does it has actually read what is required of a steward during competition. Any one can have a go at this and we even have a new policy for our junior members.

What is required:

Above is a link to the Stewards information pack (which will be updated on a regular basis), and all you have to do is read this pack and answer the 10 questions at the end that relate to the stewards (ie: Inbound, box and line steward positions) then forward your answers to the [email protected] for marking by our supervisory judge. If you pass this questionaire you will receive a laminated card with your name on it stating that you are now a ticketed steward. This means you may be called on at competitions to ensure the best person is there for the job. You must complete this step before you can move on to the timekeepers ticket.

Timekeepers ticket - Submit the above exam to [email protected] for marking by our supervisory judge. If you pass this you will receive a different laminated card with your name on it stating that you are now a ticketed timekeeper. This means you may be called on at competitions to ensure the best person is there for the job.

Below is an explanation of what our junior members are eligible to do:

Junior Stewards

At the March 2007 committee meeting it was decided that because we have junior handlers we should also have junior stewards. So to assist in this the AFA has put together a Stewards Pack with 2 questionnaires (10 questions each) at the end. Junior Handlers are invited to complete the questionnaire for Stewarding only and forward it to the email address in the steward pack for marking. Upon passing the questionnaire they will then be eligible to steward in certain positions at competitions.

Minimum age for this will be 14 years old. At 14 years of age the Junior Handler can complete the Stewards Questionnaire. If they pass they will be sent a stewarding card and badge (to be warn in the ring at all times while they are stewarding) to say they can steward in either the ‘box stewards’ position or ‘inbound stewards’ position only.

At the age of 16 years the Junior handlers can complete the questionnaire and upon passing will receive a different coloured card and badge (to be warn in the ring at all times while they are stewarding) and will be eligible to sit in the ‘box stewards’ position or ‘inbound stewards’ position and the ‘line stewards’ position.

The age limit for ‘timekeepers’ remains 18 years of age.

The questions are at the back of the Stewards Information Pack, just click on the link above.

Stewards from Impartial Teams

The AFA has received reports from AFA members about stewarding at competitions. It is becoming evident to the AFA that there is a problem with club/team members stewarding for their own team/club at competitions and also with choosing to steward for your club/teams opponent during racing.

Stewards are important for any competition and racing cannot start without stewards, so please in future could we all make an effort to not steward when our club/teams are racing in the ring, but jump in when your club/team is not racing.